The Apprentices

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Overview

Two years have passed since Janie Scott last saw Benjamin Burrows, the mysterious apothecary’s defiant son who stole her heart. On the other side of the world, Benjamin and his father are treating the sick and wounded in the war-torn jungles of Vietnam.

But Benjamin has also been experimenting with a magical new formula that allows him to communicate with Janie across the globe. When Benjamin discovers that she’s in trouble, he calls on their friend Pip for help. The three friends are thrown into a desperate chase around the world to find one another, while unraveling the mystery of what threatens them all.

Acclaimed author Maile Meloy seamlessly weaves together magic and adventure in this breathtaking sequel with stunning illustrations by Ian Schoenherr.

Praise

Praise for THE APPRENTICES:

Sequel to the New York Times bestseller, THE APOTHECARY!

STARRED REVIEW FROM PUBLISHERS WEEKLY:“features the same fun, fast-moving formula as the first book, with charming characters and exciting intrigue mixed with a handful of magic . . . Schoenherr’s moody illustrations (not all seen by PW) add to the atmosphere of this magical (in multiple senses) story.”

FROM KIRKUS REVIEWS:“This . . . well-constructed adventure accurately conveys the geopolitical instability of the era and is leavened with just enough magic, chaste romance and humor to appeal to middle-grade readers through teens.

FROM BOOKLIST:“Meloy boldly weaves the disparate strings of the story together in inventive—sometimes breathtaking—ways. More nuanced than the first book, this brings together a large and intriguing cast and explores their knotty relationships . . . the characters become more memorable as the pages fly by.”

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Praise for Maile Meloy’s THE APOTHECARY:

A New York Times BestsellerE.B. White Read-Aloud Book Award Winner2011 Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year2011 Wall Street Journal Best of the Year 2011 Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Reading List

“Inventive, smart and fun, an absolute delight.”—REBECCA STEAD, Newbery Award-winning author of WHEN YOU REACH ME

FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW:“[Meloy] brings to her first book for young readers the same emotional resonance that has won acclaim for her adult fiction, grounding her story in the intricacies of family love, friendship and loyalty blended here with the complicated fluctuations of adolescence.”

FROM THE WALL STREET JOURNAL:“Maile Meloy’s sly commingling of the real and the imaginary make this a witty and entertaining Cold War romp—with a touch of age-appropriate romance.”

FROM USA TODAY:“The title of Maile Meloy’s smartly written, page-turning adventure/fantasy refers to a magical druggist in London in 1952. . . . It’s for curious readers who, like Meloy’s characters, can make room in their imaginations and ‘allow for the possibilities.’”

STARRED REVIEW FROM PUBLISHERS WEEKLY:“[A] thoroughly enjoyable adventure, filled with magic, humor, memorable characters, and just a bit of sweet romance. With evocative, confident prose and equally atmospheric spot art from Schoenherr, adult author Meloy’s first book for young readers is an auspicious one.”

FROM BOOKLIST:“Those who know little about blacklisting, the Cold War, and European life after WWII will just have to dive into the fantasy-adventure pool, which runs long and deep. Magic elixirs, transformational disguises, and everyday cunning help Janie, Benjamin, and several scientists elude capture.”

FROM KIRKUS REVIEWS:“[I]ts blend of history, culture and the anxiety of the time with magical “science” will keep readers just as spellbound as the characters.”

FROM VOYA:“[G]ood, strong historical fiction spiced with intrigue, magical realism, mystery, suspense, and science…the spies and historical twist give it a lot of flavor. The illustrations are fluid and delightful.”